March 23, 2012

Get Out There: Virginia Kraljevic and the Etsy Success Symposium

Etsy's Success Symposium will return on March 30th. This year, the all-day event will focus on how to get found now that you've set up your online presence with your Etsy shop. One of the six workshops of the day will feature our very own Virginia Kraljevic. A member of last year's leadership team of The {NewNew} and a frequent contributor to this blog, Virginia is an American artist and illustrator based in New York City. Her whimsical pen and ink drawings have been commissioned by companies such as Lacoste, Vans, and Etsy. Virginia’s artwork has been showcased in galleries, shops, and craft shows in the United States and Europe. In addition, she has a background in visual display working for Anthropologie and has assisted with prop styling and art direction on photo shoots for Vogue Hommes International and Chanel. If you attended our past Cavalcades, you will be familiar with her distinctive decorative style.

At Renegade Brooklyn

Virginia has participated in shows and markets along the Northeast Coast such as the Renegade Craft Fair, The Union Square Holiday Market, The Handmade Cavalcade, Maker Faire New York, SoWa Open Market, Crafts in Chelsea, and the Brooklyn Lyceum Markets. With this rich background it is no wonder that she was asked to participate in the Get Out There: Using Craft and Wholesale Shows to Support Your Small Business panel of the symposium.

In catching up with her before the symposium, I asked Virginia if she had attended last year's event:

"Yes, I was there last year and got to spend the day with fellow {NewNew} Etsy Team members, some interesting guest speakers, and the people who make Etsy what it is. It was a day of exchanging ideas, stories, and it offered some advice targeted for the Etsy shop newbie. This year is geared more for the experienced Etsy seller who is ready to make more a statement in all that they do -- whether it's an email, a tweet, or in-person at shows."

As a bit of a preview of the Get Out There panel, I wondered if she could share some advice for us sellers:

"In keeping with this year's theme of getting noticed, the best advice I can offer is to simply get out there. No one will know just how wonderful you or your work is unless you are willing to share a little bit of yourself and your work with the world. If creating and running your own business is what your heart is urging you to do, then it is your responsibility to follow your heart wherever it may lead you. You will surprise yourself just how far you can go with enough persistence, confidence, and by wearing a smile."

And before I forget, Virginia reminded me to look out for the accompanying Etsy Symposium workbook the day of the event -- it's free and will be available online. She's contributed a few pages filled with craft show tips that she herself wishes she had known when she began doing shows.